Kenny pledges FG will pull Ireland back from brink

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has accused Fianna Fáil and the Greens of destroying the hopes and aspirations of the next generation. Speaking yesterday at the annual Shannon Chamber of Commerce lunch in Dromoland Castle, Co Clare, Mr Kenny said Fine Gael “has a plan of credibility and integrity that will work and pull us back from the brink”.

Chamber president Damian Gleeson told the audience that Enda Kenny was following in the footsteps of Taoiseach Brian Cowen in addressing the chamber.

However, on taking the podium, Mr Kenny said: “I have no intention, no intention of following in the footsteps of Brian Cowen. He led the country in the wrong direction.”

He said: “We have been driven here by incompetence, recklessness and lack of oversight from a Government that has lost its way and run out of time.”

Fine Gael’s strategy was “based on a restoration of sound public finances, low tax on jobs, removal of obstacles on employers retaining employees and taking on new employees . . .

“We have got to get our people back to work, Fianna Fáil have had their chance.”

Mr Kenny said he intends to take a scalpel to the cost of government and the cost of governance.

“My ambition by 2016 is that Ireland will be the best small country in the world to do business,” Mr Kenny said. I see a real opportunity to sort out so many things that are wrong in our country.”

Responding to speculation that the general election may be delayed to allow the Government pass Green party-sponsored legislation, Mr Kenny said that he still expects an election “in the next 11 to 12 weeks”.